MIDLAND — Patrick J. Wright,
director of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, today announced a lawsuit against nine Kent
County school districts, the Kent Intermediate School District and the Kent
County Education Association for illegal “no-privatization” language contained
in their collective bargaining agreements. Wright filed the suit at the 17th
Circuit Court in Grand Rapids on behalf of five Kent County taxpayers.

“Michigan law could not
be more clear in prohibiting school districts from bargaining away their right
to privatize non-instructional services,” said Wright. “Lawmakers intended for
school boards to have the flexibility to manage their budgets effectively. By
including this illegal language, these districts are locking in the expenditure
of millions of dollars in taxpayer money that could otherwise be saved through
privatization.”

An analysis by James
Hohman, fiscal policy analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, found
that if the involved school districts were to privatize food, custodial and
transportation services that have not already been contracted out, the savings
would be at least $6.9 million in the first year alone.

The illegal language is
the same in all 10 district contracts: “All districts agree not to privatize
any KCEA/MEA unionized services for the life of this agreement.” Wright pointed
out that this language is directly contrary to Public Act 112 of 1994.

“These school districts
are willing to break the law to appease the union at the expense of both
children and taxpayers,” said Wright. “Our clients felt that absent a legal
challenge, this agreement will likely become permanent, hamstringing future
boards and harming students.”